A Treatise of Family Instruction, Table of contents
The Contents.
THe neglect of Family Inſtruction a great evil, page 1, 2.
Several Scriptures to prove it to be our du…y to inſtruct our Families, and that the Inſtructions which we give them be drawn out of the Word of God, page 3. to the 11.
Servants as well as Children muſt be instructed, page 11. to the 16.
The ignorance of Children and Servants proves the neceſſity of Family Inſtruction, page 16, 17
Ignorance brings many and great evils upon our Families page 17. to 22
The corruption that is in Children and Servants prove the neceſſity of Family Inſtruction, page 22 to 26
Family Duties cannot be performed without Family Inſtruction, page 26. to 30.
We have Gods example for teaching our Children and Servants, page 30. to 33.
Mothers as well as Fathers muſt inſtruct their Children, page 33. to 40.
Chap. 2. Motives to Family Inſtruction.
1. Inſtructing our Children and Servants will be a means of their converſion, page 40, 41.
Six reaſons why we ſhould labour after our Children and Servants converſion, page 41. to 45.
2. Neglect of Family Inſtruction makes us guilty of our Children and Servants blond. What a great evil it is to be guilty of the bloud of ſouls, page 45.
3. Inſtructing our Children out of the Scriptures inſtils wiſdom into them. The advantages that will come to them by being endued with wiſdom, page 51. to 57.
4. Inſtructing our Children will bring them great advantage on ſeveral accounts, page 57. to 62.
5. We benefit our ſelves ſeveral ways by inſtructing our Families, page 62. to 66.
6. The neglect of Family Inſtruction is the cauſe of ſeveral evils, page 66. to 59.
7. Family Inſtruction will propagate Religion to a thouſand generations, page 69. to 73.
8. Family Inſtruction greatly advanceth the glory of God, page 73. to 76.
9. We ſhew our love to God by inſtructing our Families, page 76, 77.
10. Gods mercy in giving us Families ſhould ſtir us up to inſtruct them, page 77. to 79.
11. We have the example of Jeſus Chriſt, and the beſt men that ever lived for inſtructing their Families, page 79. to 84.
12. Gods Judgements that have lately been upon the Nation, call for Family Inſtruction, and Family Reformation, page 84. to 87.
13. The uſefulneſs and excellency of the Scriptures, ſhould ſtir us up to train up our Families in the knowledge of the Scriptures, page 87. to 92.
14. They deal unjuſtly with their Families, who defraud them of Inſtruction, page 92. to 95
Chap. 3. Directions how to manage the work of Family Instruction ſo as to promote the Converſion, Edification, and eternal Salvation of all ſuch as are under our charge, page 95. to 200.
1. Direct. We muſt be diligent in ſtudying the Scriptures, page 95. to 98.
2. We muſt teach our Families, the knowledge of the Principles, and the practice of the Duties of Religion. Nothing but the Truth, Soul-ſaving Truths, ſeaſonable Truths, page 98. to 107
What are Soul-ſaving Truths, page 102. to 105.
What are ſeaſonable Truths, page 106, 107.
3. We muſt inſtruct our Families in the moſt edifying manner. What manner of Inſtruction is muſt edifying. What are Edifying Duties, page 107 to 113.
4. We muſt take the fitteſt ſeaſons for Family Inſtruction. What are the fitteſt ſeaſons for this work, page 113. to 116.
5. We muſt cauſe them to keep the Word of God in remembrance. What benefits come by remembring the Word, page 116. to 119.
6. We muſt watch over our Families, page 119. to 121.
7. We muſt reprove them, when they do any thing contrary to the Word of God, page 121, 122.
How to manage this duty of Reproof with ſucceſs, page 122, to 128.
8. When Reproofs take no place, we muſt correct our Children, page 128,
How Corrections may be made effectual for our Childrens good, page 129. to 132.
9. We muſt keep up our authority in our Families, page 132.
How to keep up our authority in our Families, page 132 to 137.
10. We muſt endeavour to gain our Children and Servants affections. How this may be done, page 137. to 140.
11. We muſt endeavour to engraft thoſe Scriptures which we teach our Children and Servants, in their hearts. How this may be done, page 140. to 143.
How to bring our Children and Servants in love with the Word, page 143.
12. We muſt endeavour to draw our Families to Chriſt, page 144.
How to draw our Children and Servants to Chriſt, page 144. to 148.
How to fortifie our Families againſt the offence of the Croſs, that when troubles ariſe for the Goſpels ſake, they may not fall off from the ways of Chriſt, page 148. to 151.
13. We muſt labour to know the ſtate of the ſeveral members of our Families. How we may gain this knowledge, page 152 to 155.
14. We muſt commune with our Children and Servants about their ſpiritual state. What queſtions we ſhould put to them, page 155 to 159.
15. We muſt apply our Inſtructions ſutable to the ſtate and condition of our Families, page 159.
How to deal with the unconverted in order to their Converſion, page 159 to 161.
What we are to do when we find our Children or Servants profiting by the Inſtructions we give them, page 161 to 164.
How to deal with ſuch as get no good by our Inſtructions, page 164, 165.
How to deal with ſuch as reſt in a form of godlineſs, page 165, 166.
How to deal with ſuch as are in a declining condition, page 166, 167.
16. We muſt be diligent in inſtructing our Families. Six Arguments for diligence in this work, page 167 to 170.
17. We muſt teach and watch over every member of our Families. Arguments to perſwade us hereunto, page 170 to 173.
18. Our Families muſt be kept from ſtrife, and preſerved in love and peace, page 173, 174.
What we ſhould do to prevent diſcord and contention, and to preſerve love and peace in our Families, page 174 to 177.
19. We muſt joyn Prayer with Family Inſtruction. The neceſſity of Prayer for aſſiſtance and ſucceſs in this work, page 177 to 182.
The caſe of ſuch as have prayed long for their childrens Converſion and ſee no anſwer of their Prayers, page 182 to 186.
20. We muſt act faith for the Converſion and Salvation of ſuch as are under our charge, page 186.
Several promiſes to encourage us to truſt in God for Family mercies and Family bleſſings, page 187 to 190.
The caſe of ſuch as are diſcouraged from acting Faith upon the Promiſe, becauſe they ſee no fruit of their faith or labors, page 190, 196.
21. We muſt walk exemplarily in our Families, page 196, 197.
22. Family Inſtruction muſt be continued as long as we live, page 197 to 200.
Chap. 4. Objections againſt Family Instruction anſwered, page 200 to 304.
1. Plea. Want of gifts and abilities for this work. Anſ. in 17 particulars, page 200 to 207.
How we may get our gifts and abilities encreaſed, page 206, 207.
2. The plea of ſuch as cannot read anſwered, page 207 to 209.
3. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Inſtruction becauſe they have difordered Families anſwered, page 209, 210.
4. The plea of ſuch whoſe Children and Servants are dull, anſwered, page 210 to 215.
How to deal with ſuch as are dull and have weak memories, page 212 to 215.
How to help the infirmities of our Underſtandings and Memories, page 214, 215.
5. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Inſtruction, becauſe their Children or Servants are hard hearted and rebellious Anſw. page 215 to 219.
6. The plea of ſuch as ſay their Children are too young to be inſtructed, Anſwered, page 219 to 223.
7. The plea of ſuch as ſay their Families are all ſuch knowing perſons, as that they need no Inſtruction, page 223 to 226.
8. The plea of ſuch as ſay their Families are ſo ſmall, that it is not worth their time and pains to inſtruct them, anſwered, page 226 to 229.
9. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Inſtruction becauſe their Families are great and numerous, anſwered, page 229 to 231.
10. The plea of ſuch as ſay 'tis beneath them to inſtruct their Children or Servants, becauſe they are great men, Anſw. page 231 to 233.
11. The plea of ſuch as ſay they have no ſpare time to instruct their Families, because they are poor, or have much buſineſs, or are often abroad, Anſwered, page 233 to 240.
12. The plea of ſuch as are afraid they ſhould wrest the Scriptures, Anſwered, page 240 to 242.
What means we ſhould uſe to come to the right understanding of the Scriptures, and to be kept from wresting them, page 242 to 246.
13. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Inſtruction, because they find their hearts in a dry, unsavoury frame, Answ. page 246 to 250.
How we may come to taste the ſirectneſs that is in Gods Word, page 246. to 248.
14. The plea of ſuch as ſay, 'Tis the Ministers work to inſtruct their Children, Anſw. page 250
15. The plea of ſuch as ſay, Family Instruction would make every man turn Preacher, and bring the miniſtry into contempt, page 251 to 254.
16. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Instruction, becauſe they think it is ſufficient for every man to follow the light that is within him. page 254 to 270
17. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Instruction, because it is promiſed in the times of the Goſpel, that we ſhall all know the Lord, Anſwered, page 270 to 273.
The Promises of our being taught of God do not make void Family Inſtruction, or miniſterial teaching, page 272, 273.
18. The plea of ſuch as ſay, many Children and Servants are never a whit the better for being inſtructed, page 273 to 275.
19. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Inſtruction for fear of aggravating their Childrens condemnation. Anſwered page 275 to 277.
20. The plea of ſuch as ſay, it will ſpread and multiply Errors for illiterate men to inſtruct their Families, page 277. to 281.
What we ſhould do that we may be kept from corrupting and perverting the Word of God when we inſtruct our Families, page 278 to 281.
21. The plea of thoſe who think they do enough becauſe they read the Scriptures in their Families, and hear their Children and Servants read alſo, page 281 to 286.
22. The plea of ſuch as ſay, They may teach their Families to know and remember the Word, but they cannot teach them obedience, and knowledge without obedience will do them no good, page 286.
Instructing Children while they are young makes eminent Saints, page 287. 288.
23. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Inſtruction becauſe their Servants are Fainted wick erroneous Principles, page 288 to 290.
24. The plea of ſuch as neglect Family Inſtruction, leſt they ſhould be counted ſingular, and be repreached, page 290, 291, 292.
They that neglect Family Inſtruction are worſe then Infidels and Idolaters, page 290. 291.
25. The plea of ſuch as ſay, Their Families refuſe to ſubmit unto Inſtruction What is to be done in this caſe, page 292 to 296.
26. The plea of ſuch as give over Family Inſtruction, becauſe they can ſee no ſucceſs of their labours, page 296 to 304.
What they ſhould do who find no ſucceſs in their labours in teaching their Families, page 296, 297.
Encouragements to persist in Family Inſtruction, although we ſee no ſuceeſs of our labours, page 299 to 304.
Chap. 5. Conſiderations to quiet Parents whoſe Children died in ſuch an eſtate, as they can have no hope of their Salvation, page 304. to 336.
1. Conſider Gods Soveraignty, page 306 to 308.
2. Other as good and better then we have met with the ſame tryal, page 308 to 310.
3. Gods right and intereſt in our Children is greater than ours, page 310. 311.
4. God is juſt and righteous, true and faithful in all his ways, page 311. 312. 313.
5. God ſhall have eternal glory from them that periſh, page 313. 314.
6. We ſhould conſider Gods great mercy in taking our own ſouls into a Covenant of Life and Salvation, page 314. 315.
The caſe of ſuch as are overwhelmed with grief, becauſe they fear their Children are in eternal torments: Gods justice in puniſhing ſinners to eternity vindicated, page 315 to 325.
The caſe of ſuch as are troubled becauſe they conveyed Original Sin to their Children conſidered, page 325 to 327.
The caſe of ſuch as are troubled, becauſe their Childrens bloud will be required at their hands conſidered, page 327 to 331.
Though it be a great ſin to be guilty of the bloud of ſouls, yet 'tis a pardonable ſin, page 329. 330.
The caſe of ſuch as are caſt down, becauſe God hath not anſwered their Prayers for their Children, or proſpered their labours, conſidered, page 331, 332.
The caſe of ſuch as cannot reconcile the Providence of God in caſting away their ſeed, with his promiſe, I will be thy God and the God of thy ſeed, page 333 to 336.